Veterans Report

O’Fallon Veterans Assistance Office

Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. (except holidays)

636-379-5577 or veteransaffairs@ofallon.mo.us 1st floor, O’Fallon Municipal Centre (City Hall) The Veterans Assistance Office is staffed by veterans who are dedicated to helping all U.S. military veterans and their families regarding eligibility or entitlement to VA benefits.

Stay alert for scams targeting veterans

Have you received a suspicious call from an organization claiming to represent or have affiliation with the Department of Veteran Affairs (VA)? Did the caller guarantee a lucrative payout for your disability compensation or pension claim for a small fee? If so, you may be a target of a scammer. Recently, VA has seen an increase of fraudsters and non-accredited representatives who are targeting the pension benefits of elderly veterans and their dependents and survivors. To avoid being a victim to these tactics, here are some helpful tips to remember when protecting yourself from fraud: • Be suspicious if someone offers to shift your assets around to qualify for VA pension. You may be required to repay benefits to the government. • Never share eBenefits, VA.GOV or other VA login credentials with anyone. • Do not deposit VA benefits directly into a third-party bank account unless the person is court-appointed or a VAaccredited fiduciary. • Remember, VA does not charge for processing a claim or request a processing fee. Use VA-accredited organizations to help file your claim. • VA does not threaten or take adverse actions such as jail or lawsuits on claimants. If in doubt, call VA directly at 1-800827-1000.

To report suspected activity, please contact the VA Office of Inspector General (OIG) by calling 1-800-488-8244.

WHAT’S killing O’FALLON TREES?

Three of O’Fallon’s most common species of trees are in decline across the city. Here’s what our community needs to know in order to prepare.

Ash trees, Pin Oaks and Callery Pear trees (also known as “Bradford Pears”) can be found all across St. Charles County, casting shade in front of family homes and lining our community’s parks and boulevards. Unfortunately, all three are under attack and their loss will soon result in a noticeable impact to the quality of life for O’Fallon residents.

Thinning branches, unsightly growths and brittle limbs are all signs that your tree is affected, and by the time you’ve noticed the issue, your tree is nearing the removal stage. While the causes might be different, the result is a tree that poses a danger to your home and your family. As the infestation spreads, trees become brittle, and prone to shattering during high winds, thunderstorms and snowfalls.

Ash tree deaths are caused by an invasive beetle from Asia known as the Emerald Ash Borer, which burrows into the tree’s vascular system. America’s Ash trees have no evolutionary resistance to these beetles, and have been dying in vast numbers across the U.S. since 2002.

Even O’Fallon’s most mature Pin Oaks are surrendering to the Horned Gall Wasp, which is all but impossible to control. The galls are a mutated growth that chokes the vascular system in branches, leading to the death of the tree. The cause of death of ornamental Callery Pear trees is still unknown, but their already-brittle limbs can create hazardous situations on roadways and in homes as the trees continue to decline and splinter apart.

What should homeowners do about their affected trees?

There’s no need to diagnose Emerald Ash Borer or Horned Gall Wasp infestations (although the galls are readily apparent on affected Pin Oak trees). All trees of both species will soon be infested, and calling the City or an expert is unneccesary. Residents are encouraged to plant new trees ahead of the loss of their current trees. It is recommended that residents have their trees removed once roughly half of the tree’s structure is dead. At this point, the damage is irreversible and total tree death is imminent. If dying trees are left standing, the result could be a catastrophic drop of limbs and, in some cases, entire trees. In other cities, considerable damage has occurred to houses and vehicles, and neighborhood power outages are common from falling limbs severing power lines. Because the issue is so widespread, Homeowners’ Associations may be interested in enacting subdivisionwide solutions, such as budgeting for the removal and replacement of trees.

SEE THE DAMAGE

Ash, Pin Oak and Callery (Bradford) Pear trees are in decline across O’Fallon as a result of damage caused by insects and illness, and will need to be removed soon. Can treatments stop the damage?

What is the City of O’Fallon doing about the issue?

Beginning in 2015, the City of O’Fallon has already taken measures to proactively replace affected trees on City property. In response to the Emerald Ash Borer, our Landscape division began a tree replacement program with the goal of replacing every Ash tree on City property. In fact, after the final Ash tree was removed in 2021, the City has created a net gain in trees in City parks and at City facilities, and we anticipate planting our 448th tree by the end of the year. Looking for more information about the Emerald Ash Borer? The City of O’Fallon has produced a webpage at

www.ofallon.mo.us/ emerald-ash-borer

with helpful links to more resources, including potential treatment options from the USDA Forest Service. To help dispose of tree debris from affected trees, the City offers yard waste pickup for trash customers. Contact Environmental Services at 636-272-0477 to enroll in year-round yard waste service, including monthly winter service. Yes, but success with treatments remains a gamble, and the longterm effectiveness of treatment is still unknown. There are do-it-yourself treatments and professional treatments available. Some of these have proven to hold off infestations, but they likely must be done for the entire life of the tree. Missing just one annual or bi-annual treatment will likely be enough to allow an infestation. This will be expensive over time and there are no guarantees of success. In many cases, removal will be preferable to long-term treatment options.